hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It plays a vital role in maintaining pregnancy in its early stages and is also used medically in both women and men for fertility and hormone-related treatments.
🔬 Where Does hCG Come From?
In pregnancy, hCG is produced by the placenta, beginning shortly after a fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining.
In men and non-pregnant women, hCG may be introduced through injections for medical purposes.
🧠 What Does hCG Do?
In Pregnancy:
Maintains the corpus luteum, which in turn produces progesterone — a hormone essential for keeping the uterine lining thick and supportive for the growing embryo.
hCG levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy, making it one of the first detectable markers for a successful implantation.
It’s the hormone detected in pregnancy tests — both urine and blood.
In Fertility Treatment:
In women, hCG injections are used to trigger ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary), especially during IVF or IUI cycles.
In men, hCG is used to stimulate testosterone production and increase sperm count, particularly in cases of hypogonadism (low testosterone or pituitary dysfunction).
💊 Medical Uses of hCG:
Purpose
Description
Pregnancy testing
hCG is the hormone measured to confirm pregnancy
Ovulation induction
Used in fertility treatments to stimulate egg release
Male infertility treatment
Stimulates the testes to produce testosterone and sperm
Hormone therapy in hypogonadism
Preserves fertility while on testosterone therapy
Treatment of undescended testes in boys
In some cases, hCG helps testicular descent
⚠️ Misuse and Myths:
🏋️♂️ In Weight Loss:
The so-called “hCG diet” involves taking hCG (usually via injections or drops) and following an extremely low-calorie diet (~500 calories/day).
Reality: The FDA has declared this use illegal and fraudulent, as there is no evidence that hCG promotes weight loss or reduces hunger.
Any weight loss from the hCG diet is due to severe calorie restriction, not the hormone.
💪 In Bodybuilding:
hCG is sometimes used by male bodybuilders on or after anabolic steroid cycles to:
Prevent testicular shrinkage
Restore natural testosterone production
Preserve fertility
It mimics LH (luteinizing hormone) and signals the testes to produce testosterone. Used carefully, it can be part of post-cycle therapy (PCT).
🧪 Normal Ranges (Pregnancy):
Time Since Conception
hCG Level (mIU/mL)
3 weeks
5 – 50
4 weeks
5 – 426
5 weeks
18 – 7,340
6 weeks
1,080 – 56,500
7–8 weeks
7,650 – 229,000
9–12 weeks
25,700 – 288,000
Levels peak during the first trimester and then decline.
🧠 Summary:
Feature
Details
Full Name
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Made by (in pregnancy)
Placenta
Key Roles
Supports early pregnancy, triggers ovulation, boosts testosterone in men
